The Cypher Sessions with Dr. Byron Young
Join Sonder Impact, Sip & Sonder, and DoingItWell.org as they present Dr. Byron Young’s “The Cypher Sessions,” where community, culture, and critical dialogue converge.
Freedom Through Intimacy
This month’s Cypher Session dives into a powerful and often overlooked truth: intimacy is liberation. Not the romantic kind, but the closeness we build through presence, deep listening, shared ritual, and care. Together, we’ll explore how intimacy, in all its forms, disrupts isolation and strengthens the emotional fabric of our communities.
How can connection be a healing act in a world that too often teaches us to protect, perform, and retreat?
We’ll unpack the four types of intimacy—emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual—and reflect on how each one serves as a pathway to safety, selfhood, and collective restoration. Grounded in emotional intelligence, this conversation will invite vulnerability as a source of power.
Joining Dr. Young is co-moderator Empress Varnado, a wisdom-centered leader and healing practitioner who brings intention, presence, and radical softness to every space she enters. Her exhibit “Acts of Intimacy” is currently On View at Sip & Sonder Inglewood for the month of September.
Drawing from research and community wisdom we’ll explore how intimacy:
Regulates the nervous system (lowering cortisol, increasing oxytocin)
Builds micro-connections that interrupt loneliness
Validates identity through presence and care
Strengthens trust and vulnerability in relationships
Sows the seeds for liberation, not just survival
What to bring:
- Your mind
- Your phone
- Your truth
- Your love of music
Monthly at Sip & Sonder Inglewood for 3Q 2025.
Dr. Byron Young, MD, Founder
about in residence at sip & sonder
In Residence at Sip & Sonder provides a platform for creatives, academics, and community leaders and organizers to share programming that celebrates and explores the rich cultural tapestry of Black and Brown communities, thereby fostering dialogue, creativity, and community connection. From music to well-being to civic engagement and everything in between, In Residence is here to amplify Black and Brown voices and experiences.